Boat hull having the capability of installing an optional transducer

Abstract

A removable form is positioned within a boat hull and may be removed to optionally install a sonar transducer and a method of optionally positioning a sonar transducer within a boat hull after the hull is fabricated. The removable form is defined by a distal end and an opposing proximal end. The proximal end includes a retaining flange extending beyond a nominal thickness of a portion of the hull for anchoring the removable form within the boat hull. The distal end is substantially flush with the outer surface of the hull. The removable form is temporarily adhered to a boat mold and the hull is formed therearound. When the hull is hardened, it is removed from the mold with the removable form secured therein. The hull is operative in this condition, or the removable form may be removed and a sonar transducer may be positioned in its place.

That which is claimed: 
     
       1. A boat operable with or without a hull-mounted device, the boat comprising: a hull having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a nominal thickness therebetween;   a removable form having an exterior shape which substantially corresponds with the shape of the hull-mounted device and having a length substantially defined by a proximal end and an opposed distal end, said length is greater than said nominal thickness of at least a portion of said hull, said removable form positioned within said hull of the boat at a predetermined location, said distal end positioned substantially flush with said outer surface of said hull; and   a retaining flange positioned adjacent said proximal end of said removable form and extending outward from said removable form and arranged so as to engage at least a portion of said hull at said proximal end of said removable form.   
     
     
       2. The boat according to claim 1 wherein said retaining flange extends inwardly of said inner surface of a portion of said hull to provide access to said retaining flange when said removable form is removed. 
     
     
       3. The boat according to claim 1 wherein said hull is formed of a plurality of layers of said plastic including at least a bottom layer and an upper layer, said retaining flange engaging said upper layer. 
     
     
       4. The boat according to claim 3 wherein said retaining flange is accessible above the upper surface layer of said hull. 
     
     
       5. The boat according to claim 3 further comprising a sealing layer which at least temporarily covers at least a portion of said proximal end of said removable form. 
     
     
       6. The boat according to claim 1 wherein said removable form is substantially annular and substantially defined by a cylindrical portion adjacent said proximal end and a frustoconical portion adjacent said distal end so as to substantially conform to an exterior configuration of the hull-mounted device, said distal end of said frustoconical portion being configured to mount flush with said outer surface of said hull, said retaining flange being positioned along said cylindrical portion. 
     
     
       7. The boat according to claim 1 wherein said hull-mounted device is a sonar transducer. 
     
     
       8. A removable form for positioning a hull-mounted device within the hull of a boat, said form comprising: a cylindrical portion defining a proximal end surface of said form;   a frustoconical portion defining a distal end surface of said form, wherein the cylindrical portion and the frustoconical portion define at least a portion of an exterior surface of said removable form which is configured to substantially correspond with the shape of said hull-mounted device;   a retaining flange positioned at said proximal end of said removable form to allow optional removal of the retaining flange and extending outwardly therefrom and arranged so as to engage at least a portion of the hull for retaining said removable form in the hull of the boat.   
     
     
       9. The removable form for positioning a hull-mounted device according to claim 8 wherein said frustum is substantially hollow such that said retaining flange is removable therefrom. 
     
     
       10. The removable form for positioning a hull-mounted device according to claim 8 further comprising at least one aperture defined by said proximal end surface of said removable form. 
     
     
       11. The removable form for positioning a hull-mounted device according to claim 8 wherein said distal end surface is substantially continuous. 
     
     
       12. A method of optionally positioning a hull-mounted device within a boat hull wherein the hull at least temporarily includes a removable form which is selectively removed for positioning the hull-mounted device at a predetermined location relative to the hull, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a removable form at the predetermined location relative to the boat hull, said form having an exterior surface configured to correspond with an exterior surface of the hull-mounted device;   forming a boat hull about the removable form such that a bottom surface of the removable form is positioned substantially flush with a bottom surface of the formed hull;   removing at least an upper portion of the removable form from the hull; and   removing remaining portions of the removable form from the hull following removal of the upper portion of the removable form to thereby define a void within the hull which defines a shape which substantially matches the exterior surface of the hull-mounted device.   
     
     
       13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of positioning a transducer in the void defined within the hull at the location the removable form was removed from. 
     
     
       14. A method according to claim 12 wherein said step of removing at least a portion of the removable form is a grinding operation. 
     
     
       15. A method according to claim 12 wherein said step of removing at least a portion of the removable form is a drilling operation. 
     
     
       16. A method according to claim 12 wherein said step of forming the boat hull includes the step of applying a plurality of layers and covering an upper surface of the removable form with at least one layer such that a surface of said upper portion of the removable form is parallel with a portion of an inner surface of the formed hull. 
     
     
       17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said step of removing a portion of the removable form includes removing at least the layer which covers the surface of an upper portion of the removable form. 
     
     
       18. A method according to claim 12 wherein said step of positioning the removable form includes at least temporarily securing the removable form within the hull with a retaining portion adjacent an upper end of the removable form.